Feeding means for high speed printing press



2,787,214 FEED ING MEANS FOR HIGH SPEED PRINTING PRESS Filed June 28, 1954 April 2, 1957 J. HALAHAN ETAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N ,QXENTQRS #3 50025 EAXQONSON nova n. LYON FEEDING MEANS FOR HIGH SPEED PRINTING PRESS Filed June 28, 1954 April 2, 1957 J. HALAHAN ETAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO RS JoH/v HALAHAN THEODORE E HRGMSON FLOYD LYON April 2, 1957 J. HALAHAN ETAL 2,787,214

FEEDING MEANSFOR HIGH SPEED PRINTING PRESS Filed June 28, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 THEODORE ARON-301V f2 0 Y0 H. L YON April 2, 1957 J. HALAHAN ET AL 2,787,214

FEEDING MEANS FOR HIGH SPE D PRINTING PRESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 28, 1954 WTHRY SOLENOID lllllllllll.

FEEDING MEANS FOR HIGH SPEED PRINTING PRESS Filed June 28, 1954 April 2, 1957 J. HALAHAN ET AL 5 sheets-sheet 5 N Mg JOHJ JA EEZBP THEODORE F. ARON-SON F10 V0 3. L YON United States Patent FEEDING MEANS FOR HIGH SPEED PRINTING PRESS John Halahnn, Brookville, Theodore F. Aronson, Valley Stream, and Floyd A. Lyon, Brookville, N. Y., assignors to Halm Industries Co., Inc., Glen Head, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 28, 1954, Serial No. 439,628

17 Claims. (Cl. 101--232) This invention relates to printing presses and more particularly to such presses for individual pieces having very high speed operation.

In printing individual work pieces such as envelopes, envelope blanks, sheets, checks, cards and the like, the limitations on the speed of the press are generally the means for separating the work pieces individually from a stack, putting them in proper registration with the printing rollers and feeding them through the printing rollers.

The present invention provides means for accomplishing these objects and achieving a speed of operation much higher than usually attained by conventional presses. In a press of this speed certain safety means must be provided. For instance, if there is a jamming of work pieces for some reason, means must be provided to shut off the supply of work pieces. In the present invention this is done by cutting OK the vacuum supply to the vacuum feeding mechanism, which separates work pieces from the stack.

Another malfunction that must be avoided is caused by a skipping of one or more work pieces. This absence of a work piece would cause the printing roller to smear ink on the impression roller, which would smear the following pieces. Therefore, means are provided to retract one of the printing or impression rollers when a work piece is skipped.

The present invention comprises a high speed printing press comprising a pair of printing rollers including a printing roller and an impression roller, a feeding table including a horizontally moving chain, a rack for supporting a stack of work pieces such as envelopes and a high speed vacuum feeding system, for supplying the work pieces from the stack one at a time and placing them on said chain feeding mechanism. The chain feeding mechanism is synchronized with the printing rollers and the chains have registration pins which engage the rear edges of the work pieces and move them in synchronized space relationship so that they will be properly printed.

The vacuum feeder is preferably of the type disclosed in our co-pending application S. N. 374,304, filed August 14, 1953, now U. S. Patent No. 2,770,458.

Means are provided to prevent jamming of the work pieces comprising a switch adapted to be actuated by any pile up of work pieces and means connecting said switch to a circuit for shutting off the vacuum of the vacuum feeder.

Means are also provided to avoid smearing of the work pieces which would be caused by any skipping. For instance, if a work piece was skipped, the ink from the printing roller would smear on the impression roller and smear the side of the work piece.

The work pieces, i. e., envelopes are fed to and removed from the printing rollers by a pair of rollers which are driven at the same surface speed as the said chain. In other words, there is no snatching of the work pieces from the feeding chain. Since the Work pieces are not snatched from the feeder chain registration pins on the chain would normally jam against the rear edges of the work piece and buckle them. In order to avoid this a cam is provided on the sprocket shaft of the chain feed which raises the rear edges of the work pieces suificiently to clear the registration pins.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved printing press means for printing individual work pieces.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved printing press means for printing individual work pieces at high speed.

Another object is to provide new and improved high speed printing press for envelopes and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide high speed printing press means including means to prevent jamming of work pieces.

Another object is to provide high speed printing press means including means to disengage the printing rollers when a work piece is skipped.

Another object of the invention is to provide a high speed printing press comprising printing rollers, means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder means for separating said work pieces from stack individually, chain feeding means for receiving said work pieces from said vacuum feeder and feeding said work pieces to said printing rollers, pins in said chain to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, means to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, means to cam said work pieces over said pins at the end of said chain, and feed rollers operating at the same surface speed as said chain feeding means to receive said work pieces.

Another object of the invention is to provide high speed printing press means including means to make a fine adjustment of the registration while the machine is in operation.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the specification and drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a partial sectional elevation view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views of the vacuum feeding portion of the invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the means for retracting the impression cylinder.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the spiral gear means for making a fine adjustment of the registration of the printing cylinder.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the means for stopping the vacuum supply to the vacuum feeder.

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation view taken along the line 77 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a schematic electrical diagram of the relay control circuits for retracting the impression cylinder.

Figure 1 shows an elevation sectional view of an embodiment of the invention. The work pieces such as envelopes are separated by a suction feeding device, Figure 2, and placed by belts 34 on a chain conveyors 2 and 2, which carry them to the right where they are ultimately inserted between the printing roller 3 and the impression roller 4. The chain drive 2 has certain pins 5, 6, etc., which serve to carry and register the work pieces 5' and 6 respectively, the rear edges of the work pieces being held against pins 5 and 6. The pins are adjustably connected to the chain 2 which is synchronized by intermediate gearing, not shown, with the printing roller so that the proper registration is obtained. When the work pieces reach the end of the chain drive they are gripped by a driven feed roller 7 and its spring loaded associated roller 7'. The work pieces, for instance envelope 8, is then inserted between the printing roller .3

and the impression roller 4. When the work piece emerges from the printing rollers, it is stripped from the bottom roller by a stripper bar It) and fed between rollers 11 and 12.

The printing rollers 3 and 4 and feed rollers'7 and 10 are driven at the same surface speed as the chain 2. Therefore, there is no snatching of the work pieces from the chain conveyor. Since this is the case, it is necessary to lift the rear edges of the work piece so that they will clear the registration pins at the end of the chain. Referring to work piece 8, its rear edge has been lifted by the cam 13 over the pin 14. If the cam 13 were not provided the rear edge of the envelope 8 would be buckled since it would not clear the pin as the pin went around the sprocket. The cam 13 is mounted on shaft 61 and driven in timed relation to the passage of pins and 6.

Means are also providedfor stopping the flow of work pieces ifthere is a jam-up, for instance if more than one piece is fed in at a time. velopes will jam-up under the pivotally mounted contact member 15 causing it to touch the contact 16, thereby completing a circuit which will cut off the vacuum supply to the vacuum feeder 1 as will be more fully discussed.

Means are also provided for preventing damage and spoilage due to a possible skipping of a work piece. If a work piece were skipped, the ink on the printing roller 3 wouldbe applied directly to the impression roller 4 so that succeeding pieces would be smeared with ink caus ing a spoilage of many pieces before this condition might be noticed. The means to avoid this condition include the microswitch 20 which is connected in a circuit as will be more fully discussed in connection with later figures. Attention is called to the fact that the micro switch 20 has its arm 20' contacting the work piece 8. In other words, the micro switch senses whether or not a work piece is where it is supposed to be. If this is not the case, the micro switch 20 will initiate a series of operations, which will be more fully discussed, which will cause retraction of the impression cylinder 4. Ink is applied to the printing roller in a conventional manner from the ink reservoir 22 through ink feeding rollers 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28. The roller 24 is mounted on an oscillating arm 24'.

It should be noted that the feed rollers 7, 7', 11 and 12 grip the work pieces at each end while it is being printed. In other words, the feed rollers 11 and 12 grip the work piece or envelope before the rollers 7 and 7 let go. This insures positive registration of the envelope. At the end of the printing operation the work pieces are dropped on the moving belt 30.

Chain 29 rotates shafts 29' and 29" which adiust the side guide rails as discussed in connection with Figure 7. Chain 29 is actuatedby an adjustment knob 39, Figure 7, on shaft 29".

Figure 2 shows the vacuum feeding arrangement which feeds the envelopes to the chain drive 2. The work pieces are stacked in rack 31 adjustably tiltable about shaft 76 and the bottom work piece is peeled otf by the suction cylinder 32, which oscillates to insert the front edge of the work piece within the grip of the roller 33 where it is then placed on the belt 34 and delivered to the chain 2. The suction feeding device 32 may be substantially as described in our co-pending application, S. N. 374,304;

filed August 14, 1953; entitled entitled Paper Feeder. The tilting feature permits different weight work pieces to be equalized.

Figure 3 shows how the suction cylinder 32 is oscillated. The cylinder 32 is mounted on a shaft 35 which is oscillated by the linkage comprising the members 36, 37 and 33 and the driven cam 44 As the cam 40 is rotated by means of the driven gear 41 the connecting arm 37 will travel controlled by the cam causing the shaft 35"to. rotate counter-clockwise. When the high spot of the'cam recedes the shaft 35'wil1be returned to its If this occurs, the enoriginal position by means of the spring 42, pushing the arm 37 back against the cam.

Figure 4 shows the means for retracting the impression cylinder 4 in response to a control circuit, Figure 8, including the micro switch 2d, Figure 1, which will indicate if a work piece has been skipped. When this control circuitis activated, it energizes the solenoid 50 which pulls the arm 51. There is another solenoid and arm, not shown, on the other end of the impression cylinder.

The impression cylinder 4 is mounted in a shaft 52 which is mounted on a bracket 53 which is pivotally mounted to the frame at the point 54. The bottom of the bracket 53 is a pivotally mounted link member 55. The link member 55 is pivotally mounted at its other end to connection bracket 56 which is pivotally connected to the frame by shaft 56' which is eccentrically mounted to the frame. By rotating this member 56' the impression canbe adjusted independently on each side while the press is in operation. 7

When the solenoid Si is energized, it pulls the arrnfil to the left, thereby pivoting the member 56 about the point 56', pulling the lower end of the link member 55 to the left thereby rotating the bracket 53 about the point 54 which in turn drops the impression cylinder 4.

Figure 5 shows means for making a fine adjustment of the registration of the printing rollers. This adjustment may be made while the machine is in operation. The printing roller 3 and the impression roller 4 are geared together by the gears 3' and 4' and they are driven in the following manner:

The motive power supplied by the belt 69 which drives the shaft 61 and supplies power to the conveyer chain 2, the printing roller 3 and feed rollers 7 and 11 and impression cylinder 4. The shaft 61 has connected to it a spiral gear 62, which drives a similar spiral gear 63 on the shaft 64. Also connected on shaft 64 is a gear 65 which drives gear 66 and which is directly connected to cylinder 4 and gear 4', which drive the rollers 7 and 11 and the printing roller 3 through gear 3'. The shaft 64 is movable along its axis by means of the knob 64' which is threaded to the frame 70.

Therefore, by rotating the knob 64, the shaft 64 will be axially displaced, thereby changing the registration of the printing rollers with respect to the feeding chain 2 because of change of point of contact of the spiral gears 62 and 63 which are axially displaced relative to each other. This adjustment is a very fine adjustment and can be made while the apparatus is in operation which is a very great advantage.

Figure 6 shows the method of cutting off the vacuum to the suction feeder 32 when there is a jam-up of the work pieces, as previously discussed in connection with Figure 1. When this situation occurs the rotary solenoid 71 is energized by contacts 15, 16, Figure 1, which operates the butterfly valve 72 to open up the vacuum line 73 to atmospheric pressure. This will effectively remove the vacuum. from the suction member 32 andwill, therefore, stop the flow of work pieces. This method of stopping the work pieces does not depend on stopping any moving machinery in an emergency. the vacuum can be cut off instantaneously whereas stopping of the relatively heavy moving parts such as the printing roller and the conveying feeder would take a considerable amount of time, and six or eight pieces might be damaged before the heavy moving parts came to a complete stop. In the present system the vacuum can be shut off instantaneously, and no work pieces will be piled up. The impression cylinder will then be automatically retracted when no envelopes are fed, as previously discussed.

Figure 7 shows a sectional view taken along the line 77 of Figure 1. This figure shows the frame and sidemembers it} and S1 whichv support the shaft 61. Adjustable supporting members 82 and 83 support the bot- In other words,

tom, guides 84 and 85, and the side guides 86 and 87. Members 82 and 83 are threaded to shaft 29" and are adjusted equally in and out when the shaft 29" is rotated by the chain 29, which is rotated by knob 39. The envelope 79 is held down by the pivotally mounted guide members 88 and 89 which ride on the work pieces to keep them in good contact with the supporting rails 84 and 85. The work pieces are driven by the chains 2 and 2' as discussed in connection with Figure 2, and the work pieces are registered by the pins 5 and 5' which are mounted on the chains. Since the chains are geared to the printing rollers, the relationship of the pins is synchronized with that of the printing rollers for purposes of registration. The micro switch 20 and its arm 20 are actuated by the pressure of the piece passing over it. The guides are slotted to permit the arm 20 to extend through them. The brackets 19 and 19 also shown in Figure 1 are adjustable to take up the slack in the chains 2 and 2.

Figure 8 shows the electrical circuits for retracting the impression roller by means of the rods 51, Figure 4. The rod 51 is actuated by a solenoid 50.

The two switches which determine whether or not there is a skipped envelope are the micro switch 20 and the cam actuated switch 75. The switch 75 is actuated by a cam 77, which is preferably mounted on a drive shaft 76 or one of the other synchronized drive shafts, as shown in Figure 2.

Therefore, switch 75 is closed by the cam 77 at the time when an envelope should depress the arm 20' of the switch 20. If there is no envelope there at that instant, the switch 20 will rise up to the skip position which will actuate the relay circuits to retract arm 51 and the impression roller. The relay circuits include a latch relay to prevent the control circuit from oscillating or hammering continuously.

The control circuit is shown at the skip position, that is, with the switch 20 in the up position. This closes the relay contact 91 which energizes the coil 92 and unlatches the rod 93 causing the contact 94 to be made through the solenoid 50 and retracts the rod 51, and the impression cylinder.

The circuit will be kept in this condition until a normal condition arises namely, when a paper is in its proper position and the switch 20 is depressed to the normal position, as switch 75 is actuated by cam 77. This will then actuate the relay contact 96 which will energize the coil 97 and cause the relay to be latched by the arm 93. This action will also open the contact 94, and the rod 51 which is spring loaded, as shown in Figure 4, which will be released and permit the impression cylinder to be returned to its normal operating position.

Therefore, the present invention provides a high speed printing press for individual work pieces such as envelopes, envelope blanks, sheets, cards, checks and the like. The present invention utilizes an improved high speed vacuum feeding mechanism for separating the work pieces from a stack and feeding them to the press. This improved vacuum feeding system overcomes the major limitation to high speed namely, the separating of the individual pieces from a stack and the handling of them to the printing rollers.

As has been pointed out in the specification, the printing press of the present invention has means for avoiding any spoilage due to the skipping of a work piece. This means includes a control circuit adapted to retract the impression cylinder to prevent it from being smeared with ink when a piece is skipped. The press will not stop operating but will return to normal operation as soon as the pieces are being fed in the proper position.

The present press also provides means for stopping the flow of work pieces when a jammed condition occurs.

Another feature of the present invention is the spiral gear arrangement for adjusting registration of the printing roller. This is a very fine adjustment and can be made even while the machine is operating which is a very great advantage for high speed operation. The amount of impression of the impression cylinder may be adjusted in operation, each side independently.

The present invention is not limited to handling work pieces such as envelopes, which were used in discussing the invention, but it may be used for anything that would normally be printed. The guides and rails for guiding the work pieces and the feeder means may be adjustable in size so as to handle work pieces of varying size.

We claim:

1. In a printing press, printing rollers, tiltable adjustable means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder adjacent said supporting means, means for separating said work pieces from said stack individually, chain feeding means for receiving said work pieces from said vacuum feeder and feeding said work pieces to said printing rollers, pins in said chain to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, means to cam said work pieces over said pins at end of said chain, said cam means being driven in timed relation to passage of said pins, and feed rollers operating at the same surface speed as said chain feeding means to receive said work pieces.

2. In a printing press, printing rollers, tiltable adjustable means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder means for separating said work pieces from said stack individually, chain feeding means for receiving said work pieces and feeding said work pieces to said printing rollers, pins in said chain to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, means to cam said pieces over said pins at the end of said chain, said carn means being driven in timed relation to passage of said pins, take off rollers operating at the same surface speed as said chain feeding means to receive said work pieces and means to prevent jamming of said work pieces comprising means to detect jamming and means responsive thereto to remove the vacuum from said vacuum feeding means.

3. In a printing press, printing rollers, means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder means for separating said work pieces from said stack individually, chain feeding means for receiving said work pieces and feeding said work pieces to said printing rollers, pins in said chain to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, means to cam said work pieces over said pins at the end of said chain, said cam means being driven in timed relation to passage of said pins, feed rollers operating at the same surface speed as said chain feeding means to receive said work pieces, means to avoid malfunction caused by skipping of Work pieces comprising a first switch adapted to be actuated by a work piece in predetermined position, a second switch actuated in synchronism with said printing rollers and electrically connected in series with said first switch and means responsive to said switches to disengage one of said printing rollers.

4. In a printing press, printing rollers, means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder means for separating said work pieces from said stack individually, chain feeding means for receiving said work pieces and feeding said work pieces to said printing rollers,'pins in said chain to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, means to cam said work pieces over said pins at the end of said chain, said cam means being driven in timed relation to passage of said pins, take off rollers operating at the same surface speed as said chain feeding means to receive said work pieces, means to prevent jamming of said work pieces comprising contact means to detect jamming and relay operated valve means responsive thereto to remove the vacuum from said vacuum feeding means, means to avoid malfunction caused by skipping of work pieces comprising a first switch adapted to be actuated by a work piece in predetermined position, a second switch actuated in synchronism with said printing rollers and electrically connected. in series with.

said first switch, and means responsive to said switches to disengage one of said printing rollers;

In a printing press, a printing roller and an impression roller, means for supporting a stack of work pieces,-vacuum feeder means for separating said work pieces from said stack comprising a slotted cylinder adapted to be oscillated, movable-chain feeding means for receiving said work-pieces from said vacuum feeder and moving them to said printing rollers, means on said chain to register the Work pieces relative to said printing rollers, said chains being synchronized with said printing rollers, take-off rollers adapted to remove the work pieces from the said printing rollers, said take-off rollers operating at the same surface speed as saidchain feeders,- a cam having alifting surface whose speed is synchronized with the speed of registrationmeans on said chain to raisethe rear edges of the work pieces to allow the registration means to clear.

6. In a printing press; a printing roller and an impressio'n roller, means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder means for separating said work pieces from said stack comprising a slotted cylinder adapted'to be oscillated, movable chain feeding means for receiving said work pieces from said vacuum feeder and moving-them to' said printing rollers, pins on said. chain to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, said chains being synchronized with said printing rollers,

take-off rollers adapted to remove the work pieces from the said printing rollers, said take-ofi" rollers operating at the same surface speed as said chain feeders, a cam having a lifting surface whose speed is synchronized with the speed of pins on said chain to raise the rear edges of the work pieces to allow the pins to clear and means to prevent jamming of said Work pieces comprising means to detect jamming and means responsive thereto to remove the vacuum from said vacuum feeding means.

7. In a printing press, a printing roller and animpression roller, means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder means for separating said work pieces from said stack comprising a slotted cylinder adapted to be oscillated; movable chain feeding means for receiving said work pieces from saidvacuum feeder and moving them to said printing rollers, pins on said chain to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, said chains being synchronized with said printing rollers, take-elf rollers adapted to remove the work pieces from the said printing rollers, said take-elf rollers operating at the same surface speed as said chain feeders, a cam synchronized'in time and space relation with the pins on said chain to raise the rear edges of the work pieces to allow the pins to clear, means to avoid malfunction caused by skipping of Work pieces comprising a first switch adapted to be actuated by a work piece in predetermined position, a second switch actuated in synchronism with said-printing rollers and electrically connected in series with said first switch and means responsive to said switches to disengage one of said printing rollers:

8. In aprinting press, a printingroller and an impression roller, means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder'means for separating said work pieces from said stack comprising a slotted cylinder operatively adapted to be oscillated, movable chain feeding means located for receiving said work pieces from said vacuum feeder and moving them to said printing rollers, pins on said chain to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, take-off rollers adapted to remove the work pieces from the said printing rollers, said take-off rollers operating at the same surface speed as said chain feeders, means to cam said work pieces over said pins at the end of said chain, said cam means being driven in timed relation to passage of said pins, feed rollers operating. at the same uniform speed as said chain feeding means to receive said work pieces and means to prevent jamming of said work pieces comprising means to dc- 8 tect jamming and means responsive thereto re remove the vacuum from said vacuum feeding means.

9. In a printing press, printing rollers, means for sti'pporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder means for separating said work pieces from said stack individually, chain feeding means for receiving said workpieces and feeding said work pieces to said printing rollers, pins in said chain'to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, means to camsaid work pieces over said pins at the end of said chain, said cam means being driven in timed relation to passage of saidpins, feed rollers operating at the same uniform speed as said chain feeding means to receive said work pieces, and means to adjust the registrationof said printing rollers comprising ad justable spiral gear means connected to drive said print in g rollers.

In a printing press, printing rollers, means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder means for separating said work pieces from said stack individually, chain feeding means for receiving said work pieces and feeding said-work pieces to said printing rollers, pins insaid chain to register the Work pieces'relative to saidprinting rollers said chain being geared in fixed relation to said printing rollers, means to cam said Work pieces over said pins at the end of said chain, said cam means being driven in timed-relation to passage of said pins, feed rollers operating at the same uniform speed as'said chain feeding means to receive said work pieces, means to prevent jamming of said work pieces comprising means to detect jamming and means responsive thereto to remove the vacuumfrom said vacuum feeding means, and

means to adjust the registration of said printing rollers comprising adjustable spiral gear means connected to drive said printing rollers.

11. In a printing press, printing rollers, tiltable means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder means for separating. said work pieces from said stack individually, chain feeding means for receiving said work'- pieces and feeding said work pieces to said printing rollers, pins in said chain to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, means to lift the rear edge of work pieces over said pins at the end of said chain, said lifting means being synchronized in speed and spacing with said pins and said Work pieces, feed rollers operating at the same uniform speed as said chain feeding means to receive said work pieces, and spiral gear means connected to said printing rollers to adjust the registration of said printing rollers with respect to said chain.

12. In a printing press, printing rollers, weight adjustable means for supporting a stack of work pieces,- vacuum feeder means for separating said work pieces from said stack individually, chain feeding means for receiving said work pieces and feeding said work pieces to said printing rollers, pins in said chain to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, means to lift said work pieces over said pins at the end of said chain, said lifting means being synchronized in speed and spacing with said pins and said work pieces, feed rollers at the input and output of said printing rollersoperating at the same uniform speed assaid chain feeding means to receive said work pieces, means to prevent means for separating said work pieces from said stack individually, chain feeding means for receiving said work pieces and feeding, said means todetect jamming-and meansresponsive'thereto to remove the'vacuum from said vacuum feeding means, spiral gear means connected to adjust the registration of said printing rollers' while in operation, and variable speed takeaway-belt means to remove said work pieces after printing.

14. In a printing press, printing rollers, adjustable weight means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder means for separating said work pieces from said stack individually, chain feeding means for receiving said work pieces from said vacuum feeder and feeding said work pieces to said printng rollers, pins in said chain to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, means to cam said work pieces over said pins at the end of said chain, said cam means being synchronized in speed and spacing with said pins, and feed rollers operating at the same surface speed as said chain feeding means to hold said work pieces while being printed.

15. In a printing press, printing rollers, tiltable means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder means for separating said work pieces from said stack individually, chain feeding means for receiving said work pieces and feeding said work pieces to said printing rollers, pins in said chain to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, means to cam said work pieces over said pins at the end of said chain, said cam means being synchronized in speed and spacing with said pins, takeoff rollers operating at the same surface speed as said chain feeding means to receive said work pieces, means to prevent jamming of said work pieces comprising means to detect jamming and means responsive thereto to remove the vacuum from said vacuum feeding means, and means to adjust registration of said printing rollers.

16. In a printing press, printing rollers, tiltable means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder means for separating said work pieces from said stack individually, chain feeding means for receiving said work pieces and feeding said work pieces to said printing rollers, pins in said chain to register the work pieces relative to said printing rollers, means to lift said work pieces over said pins at the end of said chain, said lifting means synchronized with and operating at substantially the same speed as said work pieces, feed rollers operating at the same surface speed as said chain feeding means to hold said work pieces during printing, means to avoid malfunction caused by skipping of work pieces comprising a first switch adapted to be actuated by a Work piece in ,predetermined position, a second switch actuated in synchronism with said printing rollers and electrically connected in series with said first switch and means responsive to said switches to disengage one of said printing rollers, and a variable speed takeaway belt.

17. In a printing press, driven printing rollers, adjustable tiltable means for supporting a stack of work pieces, vacuum feeder means for operating said work pieces from said stack individually, and feeding means for receiving said Work pieces from said vacuum feeder, input and output feed rollers located on either side of said printing rollers, said input rollers being adapted to receive said work pieces from said chain to feed said work pieces to said printing rollers, said output feed rollers being adapted to receive said work pieces from said printing rollers after printing, whereby said work pieces are held by said input and output feed rollers for proper registration of the work pieces on the printing rollers.

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